Communicating Christ

Dr. Bryan Chapell

Study Guide for Lecture #1

The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message

Goal of this lesson: To understand the unifying principle that binds all Scripture together.

Introduction: The Thought for the Day

I. The Main Thing Every Scripture Addresses

A. Introducing the F___________ C________________ F______________ (FCF)

2 Tim. 3:16, 17: All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof,
correction, and instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect
[artios=complete] thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Rom. 15:4: Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.

<> Therefore, all Scripture has a FALLEN CONDITION FOCUS (FCF) since
everything written in Scripture has the purpose of giving us hope in our fallen condition.

B. Implications of the FCF (the why that reveals and delivers meaning).

[The Swiss Cheese Effect]

1. Until we have determined ____________ a text was written, we do not know

______________ it means (even if we can say many true things about it).

2. We are not ready to say what a passage means until we have determined why the

_______________ _______________ included the text in Scripture.

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Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 2

<> FCF Definition: The FCF is the mutual human condition that contemporary
believers share with those to, or for whom, the text was written that
requires the
______________ of the passage.

II. The Redemptive Purpose Every Passage Addresses:

Recognize that thus far we have only discussed the negative. If all Scripture focuses on some

aspect of our fallen condition, why does it do so? The answer is clear: to supply the warrant and
need for the _________________ ________________ it contains to be applied. Thus, just as every

Scripture echoes our incompleteness, it is in some manner signaling the Saviors work which makes

us _________________.

Our goal as readers and teachers of Scripture is to decipher the signals, for until we do so we do

not truly understand the text. It is possible to say all the ____________ words and yet send all the

____________ signals.

III. Deciphering the Redemptive Design of Every Passage:

A. Magnifying Glass vs. Fish-eye Lens

______________ _____________ is that discipline of Bible interpretation that emphasizes

the overarching themes that unite all of Scriptures particulars. Biblical theology is not simply
asking what truth does this particular passage reveal but _________ is it related to the
_______________ message of Scripture.

B. Consider the Acorn

Key thoughts from Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology:

1. The ___________________ Principle

Biblical theology is that branch of exegetical theology which deals with the process of the self-
revelation of God deposited in the Bible. Revelation is a noun of action relating to divine
activity. Revelation is an historically progressive processa long series of successive acts.

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 3

2. The ___________________ Principle

The progressive process is organic: revelation may be in seed form which yields later full
growth accounting for diversity but not true difference because the earlier aspects of the truth
are indispensable for understanding the true meanings of the later forms and vice-versa.

3. The __________________ Principle

Revelation is inseparably linked to the activity of redemption. Revelation is the

interpretation of redemption. To see revelation properly we must see it in its redemptive
context. The context and content of some revelation may be in seed form as it relates to
redemption but it is integrally related to the mature message and is not properly understood or
communicated until this relationship is made clear.

THE ACORN LESSON

In the same sense (as trying to explain an acorn without mentioning the oak tree) we cannot
properly explain any aspect of revelation, even if we say many true things about it,
until we have in some way related it to redemption.

C. Pudding Lessons

Gods imprinting of our incompleteness in Scripture does not merely show our fallenness, it
reveals His ________________ and ___________________ which are necessary to fill us up
and make us whole.

Key Principles

1. The Principle of ____________________

Because we are fallen, Scripture is not telling us what we must do to complete ourselves
or make ourselves acceptable to God for then we would not be truly fallen.

2. The Principle of ____________________

No text in Scripture says what we can do, or should do, to make ourselves better or more
acceptable to God, as though we could lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps. The Bible
is not a self-help book.

3. The Principle of ____________________

All the Scriptures are about one, consistent, organic message. They tell us how we must
seek Christ who alone is our Savior and source of strength to do the things God says
must be done. To proclaim these musts apart from the source that enables their
accomplishment is to warp the Biblical message. Christ is integral to every passage.

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 4

Key Texts

1 Cor. 2:2: I resolved to make nothing known among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified. . . .
(cf. 1: 23: We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the
Gentiles.)atonement, not example, is key.

Luke 24:27: Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained what was said in all the
Scriptures concerning himself.

Matt. 17: The Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the prophets, appear to
testify of Christ.

D. The Mark of Distinction

The Offense of the _______________ vs. the Acceptance of _________________ in a

Synagogue or Mosque (i.e., the pervading presence of Christ in all we communicate makes
ours ________________ - centered messages vs. ____________-centered messages).

IV. Identifying Non-Redemptive Biblical Messages:

A. Nature of Non-Redemptive Messages: Sermons that are not Christ-centered (redemptively

focused) are inevitably man-centered.

B. Marks of Non-Redemptive Messages: the Deadly Bes

1. Be _______________ (follow this example)

(Daniel, Moses, David, Jesus, etc.)

2. Be ________________ (save yourself)

(Dont drink or smoke or chew, or )

(Hunker down and try harder.)

3. Be ___________________ (sanctify yourself) . . .

(Pray more, read your Bible more, go to church more, etc.)

Be messages imply that we are able to change our fallen condition. Our path to grace is
made by us is the implicit message. Listeners are left to assume our acceptance by God is
determined by our actions. But such messages, stated or implied, make us no different than
Unitarians, Buddhists, or Hindus. Romper Room taught us the difference between the Do
Bees and Don't Bees; the Bible has more to teach us.

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 5

Remember there is no _____________ in keeping Gods commands (blessing, but no merit).

If we had to earn grace prior to or after our salvation it would not be _______________.

Remember also Be messages are in Scripture, but identify their context. We cannot be
anything of God without grace.

Recognize Be messages are not wrong ______ themselves, they are wrong messages _____
themselves.

A challenge to holiness must be accompanied by a Christ-___________ or it is only

__________-centered religion.

What we communicate with the best of motives to help change damaging behaviors and

attitudes actually hurts others if Christ is absent. People cannot do what they are told to do apart

from Him, causing them either to _____________ of hope or to ______________ to be holy.

Thus, if you ______________ even unintentionally you are obligated to ____________.

Lead all instruction to Him who alone can provide holiness.

E.g., Eph. 6: 10: Be strong in the power of __________ might.

Conclusion: Going out the door with whom?

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 6

How to Determine the FCF

3-Step Process:
(Ask these things. . .)

1. What Does the Text Say (Whats the Big Idea)?

2. What Concern(s) Did the Text Address?

3. What Do We Share in Common with:

-those to (or about) whom it was written

or

-the one by whom it was written?

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 7

How to Include Biblical Theology

in Biblical Messages:
(i.e., How do you get redemptive truth in the message?)

A. Topical Approaches:

B. Textual Approaches:
analogy
illustration
or, addition

C. Expository Approaches:
1. Text

2. Type

3. Context

-Predictive of the Work of Christ

-Preparatory for the Work of Christ

-Reflective of the Work of Christ

-Resultant of the Work of Christ

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary

Communicating Christ / Lecture 1 The Heart of a Christ-Centered Message 8

The Deadly Bes

1. Be Like . . .

2. Be Good . . .

3. Be More Disciplined in . . .

<> Not wrong in themselves,

but wrong by themselves.

1996 Dr. Bryan Chapell and Covenant Theological Seminary